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The Sikkimese can be broadly classified into the Lephcas, the Bhutias, the Nepalese and the plainsmen. There are other linguistic communities like Gurung, Sunwar, Mangari, Newar, Rai etc. and other plainsmen who have migrated here from other states of India. Communities, cultures, religions and customs of different hues intermingle freely here in Sikkim. In urban areas many plainsmen like the Marwaris, Biharis, Bengalis, South Indians and Punjabis. Gurung language This is spoken by the Gurung people in two dialects. Gurung languages use Devanagari script. Lepcha Language The original inhabitants of Sikkim are the Lepchas. They existed much before the Bhutias and Nepalese migrated to the state. Before the Lepchas adopted Buddhismor Christianity as their religion, they were believers in the bone faith. is a Himalayish language spoken by the Lepcha people in Sikkim and parts of West Bengal, Nepal and Bhutan. Nepali Language The Nepalese appeared in Sikkim much after the Lepchas and Bhutias. The Nepalese now constitute more than 80 % of the total population. is a language in the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family. The Nepalese introduced the terraced system of cultivation. Cardamom was an important cash crop introduced by the Nepalese. Nepali is commonly written in the Devanagari script, as are Hindi and Sanskrit. Tamang Language It is a term used to collectively refer to a dialect cluster spoken in parts of Nepal and Sikkim. It comprises Eastern Tamang, Northwestern Tamang, Southwestern Tamang, Eastern Gorkha Tamang, and Western Tamang. Bhutia They are the people of Tibetan origin. They migrated to Sikkim perhaps somewhere after the fifteenth century through the state of Sikkim. In Northern Sikkim, where they are the major inhabitants, they are known as the Lachenpas and Lachungpas. The language spoken by the Bhutias is Sikkimese. Bhutia villages are as large as those compared to those of Lepchas. A Bhutia house called "Khin" is usually of rectangular shape (Last Updated on : 02-11-2011) |
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